Not sure what to do first after moving to the UK from the US? With so much to do for the actual move itself, thinking about what needs to be done AFTER relocating to the UK might seem daunting. But getting set up in the UK doesn’t take nearly as long as what it takes to move from one side of the Atlantic to the other. If you’ve just moved to London or anywhere in the UK, here are 12 must things to do in your first 10 days.
Save this for your move to the UK!
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Moved to London, now what?
As a new American expat in England, you’ll feel a huge sense of relief that you pulled off packing your entire life and family to relocate to the UK. You’ll want and need a well-deserved break once you’ve moved to London or another great city in the British Isles. But before you do that, there are essential things to do first.
To ensure making settling into England an easy-ish one, plan on completing this list of things to do after moving to England within the first few hours to even a week upon arriving. And where possible and if you have the mental capacity to add more to your plate while in the midst of moving, some of these tasks can be accomplished before moving to the UK from the US.
If you need help with the actual move to the UK, download my moving abroad checklist.
What to do first after moving to the UK from the US?
Even though there are a number of items to tackle upon arriving in the UK, here are the top 12 things to do first.
1 – Switch To A UK Mobile Network
The most urgent thing to do after moving to England is to get a UK SIM card.
Using your US mobile network provider while living abroad is insanely expensive. Verizon charges $10/day+ for international phone use, and that’s only if you sign up in advance of making your first call.
Data is essential to using Google Maps and figuring out your new life in the UK. In fact, I don’t know how I would have managed my first 24 hours without it.
There are many mobile network options, like EE, Vodafone, and O2, that sell incredibly affordable pay-as-you-go SIM cards. Simply pop out your US SIM card and insert the UK one. You’ll be up and running immediately and can switch out SIMs as you need to if you plan on keeping your US mobile phone provider.
Switching to a UK mobile network SIM card is the perfect option while settling in without investing in a long-term contract.
For how to keep your US mobile phone number while living abroad, follow these steps to port your mobile number BEFORE moving to UK from US.
2 – Open a Bank Account Before or After Moving To The UK
Although you can use your American bank card and credit card overseas, the second most important thing to do after moving to London from the US is to get a UK bank card.
Opening a bank account in the UK can be a bit of a hassle – even after moving. It can be easy to rationalize why it would be hard to open a UK bank account from America. There are many prerequisites to open a bank account while still living in the US so it’s easier to do it once you’ve established residency in the UK.
Steps To Opening A Bank Account After You’ve Moved To The UK:
Provide proof of ID and the UK home address
Provide Evidence From Your Employer To Open A Bank Account In UK
If you’ve relocated to the UK from USA for work, provide a letter from your employer. Make sure it’s on official company letterhead, dated, and signed.
Barclays accepts a letter in this format, but be sure to follow the bank’s instructions and requirements as criteria may change:
[Insert Full Name] is a permanent contract employee of [Insert Company Name] that has the right to work in the UK and is currently resident at the address below:
Full name: [Insert Full Name]
Permanent address: [Insert Address]
I trust this is sufficient but if you need more information, you can contact HR at [insert HR contact person and phone number from your company].
Signed,
[Insert manager or person responsible for you]
Find this template for opening a bank account in the UK in the Moving To England Workbook.
The employer letter will allow the person sponsored to open a bank account in the UK. However, it does not grant one for the spouse. Read about more things to know about before moving to UK from US.
Provide A Utility Bill With Your Name and UK Address
In order to open a bank account in the UK, there is a preference toward a water bill over other utilities. But ask the bank ahead of time what their requirements are as each bank may be different.
I originally thought Barclays wanted a utility bill, preferably water, with only my name and not my spouse. This further complicated matters with the water utility provider. In the end, a utility bill with both names sufficed.
3 – Open An Account With Wise
If you need to transfer money from a US bank account to a UK one, Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the best exchange rate. They make it super easy and fast to transfer money abroad.
How cute is this English Cottage with a US Mailbox!
4 – Apply for a NIN If You Plan To Work In The UK (Even If You’re Digital)
NIN is a National Insurance Number. If you plan to work in the UK, you have to have a NIN so that taxes can be determined based upon your wages. You can’t be employed until you have a NIN so be sure to apply for one.
You should only fill in the NIN application form (the form number is CA5400) if you have a UK Visa or a BRP that you applied for outside the UK that gives you permission to work in the UK. Check the front of your BRP if you’re not sure because it might be that you already have one.
Otherwise, call the National Insurance number application line to apply. You will be required to set up an appointment for an interview in person, which then takes several weeks before a decision is mailed to your residence.
5 – Register with the NHS & EHIC For Healthcare Coverage
Register with a local GP in your area to receive an NHS number. Everyone registered with the NHS has a unique patient number called the NHS number. That number stays with you like a SSN does in the States. It’s used to link your healthcare file as you change GPs, see different healthcare providers, or visit A&E.
Find a GP in the UK to register with: GP Search
Obtain an EHIC Card Is Important for European Travel Outside the UK
If you plan on traveling within Europe, as expats do, apply for a European Health Insurance Card. An EHIC card entitles you to reduced medical costs (and maybe even free) when an emergency or treatment becomes necessary during a holiday or business trip abroad. It’s free to register.
Apply for an EHIC card.
For an American perspective on what the NHS is like, read NHS vs Private Healthcare; An American Perspective.
6 – Register with the US Embassy
Let the US Embassy know where you are. This is critically important for Americans who have moved to the UK from the US, and not just visiting (you can register while only traveling to the UK too).
Registering with the US Embassy informs the US government where you live in the state of an emergency: natural, civil, or family. In the event of a pandemic, the US Embassy may provide a daily update via email with important travel information, passport and VISA services, and even information on repatriation.
Important notices are sent to you by email and are another means to stay informed on where you live in the UK or plan to travel to. Go to step.state.gov to register with the US Embassy after moving to UK from US.
For additional tips on the US Embassy in London, read up on passport renewals here.
7 – Register Your Pet After Moving To England
If you relocated to Great Britain with a pet, you have 30 days to register with the UK Pet Database.
Don’t wait because in the event your pet likes to socialize, like our yellow lab, he might fancy a solo trip or two to the pub.
A total stranger picked up our lab at the pub one afternoon and turned him into a vet across town. If it hadn’t been for the pet database, I’m not sure we would have found him. For more on that story, check out how the pet database saved Duke.
Register your pet in PETtrac.
8 – Pay For a TV License
Even if you don’t plan on owning a TV in the UK, if you have a smartphone, computer, Kindle, or any electrical device and watch live TV programming (recorded or not), you must have a TV license after moving to the UK. There are a few exceptions but not watching BBC TV would be nearly impossible in the UK.
If caught without one, fines are pretty hefty. Be ready to pay up to £1000.
Apply for your TV license once you’ve moved to the UK.
9 – Schedule Utilities
If you’re staying in a short-term let while trying to find a place to live, not scheduling utilities in advance isn’t a big deal. However, if you plan on moving into a home straight away, living without the internet for a while could pose a big challenge depending upon your situation.
Scheduling internet services, which are typically bundled with cable and home phone services, can take weeks to get scheduled. The time it takes to get set up on basic services is one of the big differences between living in the USA and the UK. The catch is that you need a local bank account to complete. This is the dilemma with trying to set up utilities before actually arriving in the UK.
iammoving.com is a great resource to help prepare all the services you need for your new home. Your landlord can trigger this for you as the former tenant moves out. This proactive service makes it easier for you to figure out who the local providers are for water and gas and the best rates.
For more details on what to expect for utilities, read UK utilities and expenses.
10 – Register For Council Tax
If you’re renting a property in the UK, be sure to ask the landlord if you’re responsible for the Council Tax. This was a major surprise and one that we hadn’t budgeted until after we moved to England.
Council Tax is charged according to which band, A through H, the property is listed at. The band is based upon the size, location, and other factors.
Council tax pays for community services, such as the police, fire, parks maintenance, and street cleaning.
Once you decide where to live in London or elsewhere in the UK, register for council tax with your local district.
11 – Get Insurance – Contents, Car, Travel…
Similar to the USA, you’ll need home insurance (contents insurance if renting) and car insurance after moving to UK. And I highly suggest travel insurance. Be sure to research your current credit card for travel insurance coverage because many offer it as a standard benefit.
comparethemarket.com offers the easiest way to research what’s available for different types of insurance coverage. If the website is too overwhelming, simply call.
For more advice on insurance, read UK utilities and expenses.
12 – Book The Driving Theory Test
After moving to the UK, you have one year to drive on your USA license before needing a UK one. Although one year seems like plenty of time, I nearly had enough.
Getting a license in the UK is far more difficult than in the USA. If you don’t have a valid UK license by the end of the year, your car insurance will be canceled making it illegal for you to drive at all in the UK.
Book your Driving Theory test at least half-way through the year, giving you time to take the exam more than once should you fail the first time. It’s not atypical to take the exam twice. Of all the things to do after just moving to the UK, this one will be the most time-consuming.
Once you pass the driving theory, schedule the practical driving test straight away.
Test centers are booked weeks, sometimes months in advance, depending on where you live. Although getting your UK driver’s license isn’t as urgent as other things to do after just moving to the UK, don’t wait too long to schedule it.
For tips on how to pass, read How To Prepare For The UK Driving Theory Test.
Final Thoughts On What To Do First After Moving To UK
Once you move abroad, there are many things to do, but be sure to focus on these 12 things first.
Aside from utilities, taxes, tests, and the NHS, be sure to take the time for you, too. Enjoy a G&T, a pint, and even some fish and chips.
Be sure to stop and celebrate your move to London or whichever great UK location you’ve moved to from America. Find a pub and make it an annual celebratory place to honor the big day you moved to Great Britain. That’s what we did and it’s a great way to cherish memories of all that ensued to move abroad. 😉
And if you need ideas for how to make new friends (which will be next on your list of what to do first after moving UK from USA), try these tips to make new friends.
Need help with moving to the UK from the US? Try these.
8 comments
I’m in the Cotswolds. Will absolutely let you know if I find something missing that I need.
So jealous!! Soooo beautiful this time of year (and anytime really)! Good luck and lmk!
What an amazing find – your blog! I just moved to the UK from the US and could not have asked for better guidance. Thank you for your efforts. I have subscribed and will be buying things from your site to suppport you.
Hi JB! Thank you so much for the feedback. I’m so glad you found the blog! Would love to know if there’s a topic you can’t find on the blog. I write more about travel now, so I hope you enjoy that too! What part of the UK did you move to?
this is a great list. Getting registered with a GP Practice is really important. Sometimes, the one closest to you will not be taking new patients and you will need to hunt around. The first week we moved to the UK (with no furniture, or dishes and basically a bed and a TV) I became quite ill which necessitated me going daily to the doctor’s office (GP surgery) every day for a week. Thankfully, my husband came a week early and had already registered us. I”m happy to report that the care I received was very good (which involved a shot in the “bum” that consisted of the GP opening his briefcase, pulling out a syringe, giving me shot, and tossing it back in).
Wow, Jen!! That’s one way to get to know your GP! So glad it all worked out for you. I didn’t sign our family up for a GP until it became a necessity but given the current crisis and simply never knowing when you might fall ill, signing up for a GP right away is a great point. It can take a while to find one, especially right now. I hope you’re doing well otherwise. Thank you so much for reading the blog and for adding helpful info to others who are moving to the UK. Stay safe! x
We just moved to the UK from the US and your blog is so helpful. Thank you!!!
Hi Sherryl! How exciting! I’m glad you found the blog and it’s helping. I love hearing from my readers. Good luck and have fun! x